Improvement in whiffletree-tug fasteners



J. L. GRAFF.

Whiifletree-Tug FastLane-rs.

N0,l56,921, Patented Nov.17,1874.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES L. GRAFF, OF PETROLIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WHIFFLETREET UG FASTENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.1 56,921, dated November 17,1874; application filed January 26, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs L. GRAEF, of Petrolia, in the county of Butler and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Trace-Fastener for Whiinetrees; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, refer ence being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal section of a fragment of a whifdetree, showing my improved device. Fig. 2 is a plan of the sliding bar or fastener proper, detached from the whiffletree cap or socket. y Fig. 2n is an end view of the cap or socket. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a whiffletree provided with the fastener and a suitable arrangement of cord and pulleys for the purpose of operating the same.

The invention relates to the class of tracefas'teners for whiftletrees in which sliding rods orbars are arranged to enter holes or slots in the traces and to be withdrawn, to release them, by means of cords acting against spiral springs.

Hitherto whiffletrees have been bored lon gitudinally to receive such rods or bars and the cords for operating them. It is obvious this weakens the whiftletree at all points, particularly at the ends, which are reduced to receive the metal cap or trace-holder.

My inventionV consists in such construction of the cap or socket and the sliding rods or bars as adapts them to operate efficiently for their legitimate end, and yet avoids weaken ing the whifiletree by reducing its cross-sec tional area.

Referring to the drawing, B is a cylindrical metal cap or socket applied to each end ofthe whiffletree A. C is a sliding rod or bar having a knob or thumb-piece, I, at one end and a plate or disk, D, at the other end, which is formed at a right angle to it. A short pin, E, projects from the center of disk D in a plane parallel with the bar C. VThe latter slides in projects interiorly ofthe socket and the pin E projects through the loop formed on the end of the socket. (See Fig. 2s.) The coiled spring J is placed in the cap B between the end of the whirletree and the disk D, as shown in Fig. l. The ends of the traces are inserted in the loops formed on the ends of the cap or socket B, the pins E having been first drawn back into the sockets by pressure applied to the knobs or thumb-pieces I, and are there secured by the pins E.

To release the traces the bars G are drawn toward each other by the cords G G, which are joined to a ring, H, between the centrally arranged pulleys F F.`

By this construction and arrangement of parts the whiftletree is not weakened, since its cross-sectional area is not reduced, while the fastening devices are accessible for repair or other purposes.

I do not claim the combination of sliding rods, springs, trace-locking pins, and cords or wires for operating the same.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to provide sliding spring-bolts for attaching to and detaching traces from whiftletrees, said bolts being inserted in each end of the whif iietree and protected by a casing having bearings for the bolt and a protecting-cap.

I claim- The combination, with the cap B having an independent socket, X, formed on one side ot' the sliding spring-bolt C, to move in said independent socket, and having a disk, D, and projecting central pin E located within the cap, all constructed to operate as shown and described.

J. L. GRAFF. 

